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Imrem: Cam Newton embarking on special course

The Panthers left two impressions in 2011 after losing to the Bears at Soldier Field.

The first was that rookie head coach Ron Rivera would win a Super Bowl before Bears head coach Lovie Smith would.

The second was that rookie quarterback Cam Newton was the NFL's future best quarterback of all time.

Nothing is decided yet, but Rivera is favored to win Super Bowl 50 on Sunday and Newton can confirm his greatness with a victory.

The two observations, men and destinies are tied together, of course.

Rivera — a former Bears linebacker and defensive coordinator — has in Newton the franchise quarterback any coach needs to sustain success long enough to win at least one championship.

The Bears and Buccaneers both fired Smith since 2011, so he and Rivera won't be a fair fight unless a third team hires him.

Let's focus for now on the notion that Newton has the long-term potential to be the best quarterback ever.

The possibility was back then and is right now based on Newton's skills, size, smarts, work ethic and overall makeup.

Some analysts compare Newton to other black quarterbacks. Some compare him to other running quarterbacks because, well, black quarterbacks stereotypically can run.

The real comparison is to John Elway, white by the way, who happens to be the general manager of the Denver team that Newton will face Sunday.

Elway also happens to be my choice as the greatest quarterback ever, which actually means the greatest of the Super Bowl era.

Here's the ranking: 1. John Elway; 2. Tom Brady; 3. Brett Favre; 4. Joe Montana; 5. Peyton Manning.

The rationale is that Elway would have won with the other guys' teams but the other guys' might not have won with the early Denver teams he carried to the Super Bowl.

Accepting the premise that John Elway is the best ever, he's the quarterback Cam Newton must surpass.

“There probably are a lot of similarities, their athleticism and the heads on their shoulders,” Rivera said Wednesday.

First, Rivera added, “John when he was coming out was the Cam Newton of his time.” Then he respectfully amended it to, Newton “is the John Elway of his time.”

Elway didn't run as much as Newton does because NFL quarterbacks didn't back then, but he could have.

Newton also stands in the pocket, tall and sturdy, and complete passes all around the field like Elway did.

The two are comparable in so many ways, and now all Newton has to do to become the best is go to five Super Bowls and win three of them.

Denver Post columnist Mark Kiszla addressed this subject this week.

“I asked Elway point blank: ‘Is Cam Newton a better quarterback than you?'” Kiszla wrote.

He quoted Elway as saying “I'll leave that up to you.”

Kiszla, who has been a sports writer in Denver for a long time, accepted the assignment.

“Sorry, Mr. Elway,” he wrote. “You don't stack up to Newton.”

Imagine how many Broncos fans called up Kiszla's newspaper to cancel their subscriptions.

Especially considering that Newton first has to beat Manning on Sunday and then stay healthy enough long enough to beat Elway's legacy.

If Cam Newton accomplishes that, heck, he might make Ron Rivera the best head coach ever.

mimrem@dailyherald.com

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